Gabriel Chemie MD Philip Watkins announced as BPF President

Philip Watkins, Managing Director of Gabriel-Chemie, has succeeded Paul Jukes as the President of the British Plastics Federation (BPF) following a unanimous vote of the BPF Council.  

Philip Watkins has served the BPF Council for six years primarily as Honorary Treasurer from 2005 to 2010 and then as Vice-President from 2010 to 2011.

A qualified accountant, Philip Watkins graduated in1991 with a degree in Business Studies and completed an MBA at Oxford Brookes University in 2009. Prior to his current appointment as Managing Director, Watkins served as Director of Finance & Personnel at Gabriel-Chemie Group - one of the leading masterbatch producers in Europe - in a career spanning ten years.

Peter Davis, Director-General, at the BPF said, “On behalf of the BPF I welcome Philip and look forward to working with him to take the BPF to the next level. He has been a solid member of the BPF Council and I’m confident that his expertise coupled with his industry knowledge will help to successfully steer the BPF’s strategic direction.”

In his inaugural speech at the Federation's Annual General Meeting, Philip Watkins welcomed the challenges ahead and set the tone for his Presidency sighting ‘sustainability’ as the headlining theme of his tenure.

He said, “My presidential theme is: ‘Our Sustainable Plastics Industry, a strategic asset in our manufacturing economy’. This aims to emphasise the development of our industry in a sustainable way as an engine for growth and as a key sector in the UK’s manufacturing economy.”

Philip Watkins is no stranger to the subject of sustainability - he explored the subject area for his MBA dissertation titled, “Towards achieving sustainable competitive advantage in the global plastics industry: differentiation through strategic human resource management”.

He added, “Following on from my predecessors, I aim to work with the BPF to build on the successes and to fulfil the Federation’s mission. I am truly honoured to have acquired this position and look forward to embracing the role.”

Paul Jukes, his predecessor said, “I wish Philip great success for the next two years. I hope he enjoys his presidency as much as I did as the 42nd holder of this distinguished office.”

Image: Philip Watkins (left) is congratulated by Paul Jukes (right)